An effort to get politicians focused on needed sentencing reforms

Especially with so many states (as well as the feds) struggling with prison and sentencing reform issues, I keep waiting and hoping for the national political dialog to focus more on serious crime and punishment issues.  Helpfully, I see that political folks working elsewhere are making serious efforts to push sentencing reform issues into the political agenda.  Specifically, here's what I learned via e-mail from a helpful person affiliated with Washblog:

With the help of Justice Works! we've been focusing on [Washington's 3-strike law] on Washblog and making an effort to invite incarcerated people and their friends, supporters, and family members to comment.  For example:

• Life in prison without parole for low-violence  crimes: can Washington find redemption?
• Guest post from WA State Reformatory: These crimes do not merit life imprisonment

And here are more recent posts from Washblog that are specifically seeking to get this issue brought into a broader political dialogue.

• INTRODUCE THIS! Submitting Resolutions at WA's Presidential Caucuses (3-Strikes Reform)
• To Those Who Have Shown Notice to Cruel and Unconstitutional Laws in Washington State

As I have highlighted in a number of posts that can be found in this Campaign 2008 category index, crime and punishment issues already have played a little role in the presidential campaign, and I am happy to see others working on sentencing reform trying to get these issues on the nation's agenda.